Bank employees protest under the banner of the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) on January 5, 2026 in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, demanding the introduction of a five-day banking week. | Photo credit: ANI
The banking services of 12 public sector banks and some old generation private sector banks may be affected next Tuesday. It may be pertinent to mention here that banks will be closed for three days from today.
January 24 is a bank holiday as it is a fourth Saturday. January 25 is a Sunday. Banks are closed on January 26 for Republic Day.
There are nine constituent trade unions/associations in the UFBU: All India Bank Employees Association, All India Bank Officers Confederation, National Confederation of Bank Employees, All India Bank Officers Association, Bank Employees Federation of India, Indian National Bank Employees Congress, Indian National Bank Officers Congress, National Organization of Bank Workers and National Organization of Bank Officers.
State Bank of India, in a filing with the regulator, said: “We have been informed by the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) that United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU)… has issued a notice communicating their decision to implement a nationwide banking strike from midnight of January 26, 2026 to midnight of January 27, 2026.”
“In this regard, we advise that while the Bank has taken the necessary measures to ensure the normal functioning of its branches and offices on the day of the strike, it is likely that work at the Bank may be affected by the strike.”
Bank of Baroda in its regulatory filing said, “The Bank shall take all necessary steps for the smooth functioning of the branches and offices of the Bank on the day of the strike. If the strike occurs, the functioning of the branches and offices may be affected.”
Similarly, Indian Bank, Punjab National Bank, Bank of Maharashtra, Central Bank of India and Karur Vysya Bank have informed the exchanges about the upcoming union strike.
AIBEA General Secretary CH Venkatachalam said, “There would be no loss of man hours (by declaring all Saturdays as bank holidays) as we (UFBU) have agreed to work additional 40 minutes a day from Monday to Friday. RBI, LIC, GIC etc are already working five days a week.”
“Foreign exchange markets, money markets, stock exchanges etc. do not work on Saturdays. Central and state government offices do not work on Saturdays. So there is no reason why banks cannot introduce five-day banking.”
Published on January 24, 2026
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